Playboy Jazz Festival

Hugh Hefner's annual gathering at the Bowl often encompasses numerous other genres along with at least some of that jazz. But this year, the first day of the weekend festival is headlined by such pure-jazz performers as the honey-voiced, mellifluous Dianne Reeves, pianist Kenny Barron paired with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, the Arturo Sandoval Big Band, and an homage to George Duke with such luminaries as Al Jarreau, Stanley Clarke and Ndugu Chancler. Sunday expands much further and deeper, with Venezuelan combo Los Amigos Invisibles blurring the lines between funk and acid jazz, and the James Cotton Blues Band showcasing the sassy squalling of the legendary R&B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely. Sunday also gets back to jazz with Prism, a supergroup with Dave Holland, Kevin Eubanks, Craig Taborn and Eric Harland, and ace guitarist George Benson, whose nimble forays occasionally devolve into easy-listening mush.
Sat., June 14, 3 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 06/14/14)